My spouse is replacing Formica countertops with granite on four vanities.
Each has a mirror that was set onto the Formica top, glue applied to the
back, then pushed to the wall. The new tops will be thicker and the mirrors
must come off or cut shorter from the bottom. Two glass companies told me
the only way to handle this is to smash the mirrors and pull the pieces off,
and ruin the drywall in the process. Are there any other options? Thanks in
advance.

Jim Sherman wrote:

My spouse is replacing Formica countertops with granite on four vanities.
Each has a mirror that was set onto the Formica top, glue applied to the
back, then pushed to the wall. The new tops will be thicker and the mirrors
must come off or cut shorter from the bottom. Two glass companies told me
the only way to handle this is to smash the mirrors and pull the pieces off,
and ruin the drywall in the process. Are there any other options? Thanks in
advance.

None that I know of. Glued on mirrors are a royal pain. Suggest you
consider trimming the vanity bases down to make the adjustment which
will keep the countertop surface at the current height.

I use to work for a builder and we had to remove two mirrors that were
chipped. .Our mirror guy and I pumped up two large suction cups that
they use and with steady pulling we got one off. On the other one we
cut the dry wall around it and pull mirror ard dry wall both ,a little
dry wall repair but we saved the mirrors.

Jr

I built frames and sold both of them to the plumber for $60.00. Free
oak free mirrors , I miss that job But I love retirment.
Jr




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(Jerry - OHIO) wrote in news:18890-492E3953-2040
@storefull-3131.bay.webtv.net:

I use to work for a builder and we had to remove two mirrors that were
chipped. .Our mirror guy and I pumped up two large suction cups that
they use and with steady pulling we got one off. On the other one we
cut the dry wall around it and pull mirror ard dry wall both ,a little
dry wall repair but we saved the mirrors.

Jr


Just curious. You cut the drywall around it but how did you pull it off the
wall? The drywall behind the mirror must have been screwed/nailed to the
studs.

On Nov 26, 9:26*pm, "Jim Sherman" wrote:
My spouse is replacing Formica countertops with granite on four vanities.
Each has a mirror that was set onto the Formica top, glue applied to the
back, then pushed to the wall. The new tops will be thicker and the mirrors
must come off or cut shorter from the bottom. Two glass companies told me
the only way to handle this is to smash the mirrors and pull the pieces off,
and ruin the drywall in the process. Are there any other options? Thanks in
advance.

Heat? Depends on the glue. but chances of not shredding the paper of
the drywall and not ending up with the surface of the drywall all
covered with rough glue or both are slim.

The mirror will hide the mess.
Jr




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On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:26:20 -0500, "Jim Sherman"
wrote:

My spouse is replacing Formica countertops with granite on four vanities.
Each has a mirror that was set onto the Formica top, glue applied to the
back, then pushed to the wall. The new tops will be thicker and the mirrors
must come off or cut shorter from the bottom. Two glass companies told me
the only way to handle this is to smash the mirrors and pull the pieces off,
and ruin the drywall in the process. Are there any other options? Thanks in
advance.


I just started a bathroom remodel in my 50 year old house. The mirror
was glued to plaster walls. I approached the job expecting to totally
trash the mirror and wall. So I was really surprised when I just put
my putty knife behind one corner and pried. I heard a "pop" and the
entire mirror fell off the wall in one piece. I sure wasnt expecting
it to do that! Fortunately I caught it before it smashed itself.

It had been glued onto the wall with 50 year old, dried out, hard as
rock, black adhesive that smelled a bit like rubber when I used a blow
torch to soften and scrape it off the wall.

My point? Sometimes the remodeling gods do smile down upon you.

dicko wrote in
:


On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:26:20 -0500, "Jim Sherman"
wrote:

My spouse is replacing Formica countertops with granite on four
vanities. Each has a mirror that was set onto the Formica top, glue
applied to the back, then pushed to the wall. The new tops will be
thicker and the mirrors must come off or cut shorter from the bottom.
Two glass companies told me the only way to handle this is to smash
the mirrors and pull the pieces off, and ruin the drywall in the
process. Are there any other options? Thanks in advance.


I just started a bathroom remodel in my 50 year old house. The mirror
was glued to plaster walls. I approached the job expecting to totally
trash the mirror and wall. So I was really surprised when I just put
my putty knife behind one corner and pried. I heard a "pop" and the
entire mirror fell off the wall in one piece. I sure wasnt expecting
it to do that! Fortunately I caught it before it smashed itself.

It had been glued onto the wall with 50 year old, dried out, hard as
rock, black adhesive that smelled a bit like rubber when I used a blow
torch to soften and scrape it off the wall.

My point? Sometimes the remodeling gods do smile down upon you.


Lucky day. Spend a buck on a lottery ticket :-)

On Nov 26, 9:26*pm, "Jim Sherman" wrote:
My spouse is replacing Formica countertops with granite on four vanities.
Each has a mirror that was set onto the Formica top, glue applied to the
back, then pushed to the wall. The new tops will be thicker and the mirrors
must come off or cut shorter from the bottom. Two glass companies told me
the only way to handle this is to smash the mirrors and pull the pieces off,
and ruin the drywall in the process. Are there any other options? Thanks in
advance.

Those 2 glass companies must have a bunch of morons working there.

The mirrors can be removed and saved with piano wire and 2 pairs of
vice grips.

Cut a piece of piano wire about 3 ft wider than the mirror, then slip
the wire between the mirror and the drywall (preferably from top edge
of the mirror). Now, clap the vise grips onto the ends of the piano
wire. Have someone help you work the piano wire back and forth in a
sawing motion, at the same time pulling downward. (if you start from
the top)

This will cut through the mirror mastic and allow you to remove the
mirror. Depending on the situation, you might need another person to
help hold the mirror so it doesn't hit the floor.

I recommend using Equalizer brand braided piano wire that can you can
get at most autoglass shops. http://tinyurl.com/5zulxt If you talk
directly to an autogalss installer they will probably just give you
about a 20 ft piece - just slide the guy 2 or 3 bucks. Do NOT use
regular piano wire, it gets hot and you have to stop every 2 seconds
to let it cool or it will break in half.. A REAL pain in the ass!

BTW, I've removed MANY mirrors using professional suction cups only,
because the drywall paper will come off with the mastic before the
mirror will break. Sounds like they were just trying to sell you some
new mirrors and didn't want just a labor job or like I said, they are
morons.

What he said

On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:00:42 -0800 (PST), Ron
wrote:

Those 2 glass companies must have a bunch of morons working there.

The mirrors can be removed and saved with piano wire and 2 pairs of
vice grips.

Cut a piece of piano wire about 3 ft wider than the mirror, then slip
the wire between the mirror and the drywall (preferably from top edge
of the mirror). Now, clap the vise grips onto the ends of the piano
wire. Have someone help you work the piano wire back and forth in a
sawing motion, at the same time pulling downward. (if you start from
the top)

This will cut through the mirror mastic and allow you to remove the
mirror. Depending on the situation, you might need another person to
help hold the mirror so it doesn't hit the floor.

I recommend using Equalizer brand braided piano wire that can you can
get at most autoglass shops. http://tinyurl.com/5zulxt If you talk
directly to an autogalss installer they will probably just give you
about a 20 ft piece - just slide the guy 2 or 3 bucks. Do NOT use
regular piano wire, it gets hot and you have to stop every 2 seconds
to let it cool or it will break in half.. A REAL pain in the ass!

BTW, I've removed MANY mirrors using professional suction cups only,
because the drywall paper will come off with the mastic before the
mirror will break. Sounds like they were just trying to sell you some
new mirrors and didn't want just a labor job or like I said, they are
morons.